parsley

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• parsley
• garden parsley
• parsley

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Petroselinum vulgare var. crispum
• Carum petroselinum var. crispum
• Petroselinum hortense var. crispum
• Petroselinum sativum var. crispum
• Apium crispum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Petroselinum crispum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Apiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Apiaceae and the genus Petroselinum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Petroselinum crispum, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, the species is established throughout the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence also extends to the coastal and inland areas of Norway. Together, these locations highlight the plant's prevalence across these northern latitudes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Petroselinum crispum is characterized by its adaptability to various altitudes, primarily occupying lowland habitats. It thrives across a broad elevational spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2900 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 900 m AMSL. In terms of symbiotic relationships, this species does not form mycorrhizal associations, functioning independently of mycorrhiza in its soil interactions.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Mycorrhiza :

no

Genetics

The genetics of Petroselinum crispum are characterized by a specific karyotype that serves as a fundamental taxonomic marker for the species. The plant possesses a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 22, a genomic configuration that influences its reproductive biology and evolutionary lineage within the Apiaceae family. This chromosomal arrangement dictates the patterns of meiosis and genetic recombination during seed production, which in turn affects the inheritance of various morphological and biochemical traits, such as leaf morphology and the synthesis of essential oils. Understanding this chromosomal count is essential for studying the plant's genetic stability and its potential for selective breeding to enhance specific secondary metabolites.

Chromosome number :

22

Life history

The life history of Petroselinum crispum is characterized by a biennial lifecycle, meaning it typically completes its biological processes over a span of 2 years. As a therophyte, the plant spends its vegetative stage developing a robust root system and lush foliage, after which it transitions into its reproductive phase. During its first year, it focuses on establishing its structural presence, and in the second year, it produces flowers and seeds before completing its life cycle. This developmental pattern is consistent with its classification as a therophyte, as it relies on seeds to persist through unfavorable conditions.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

biennial

Lifespan :

2

Morphology

The morphology of Petroselinum crispum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber or a liana, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it exhibits a variable plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1.3 m, with an average height of approximately 0.5875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.5875 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Petroselinum crispum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology and is classified as non-carnivorous, relying on soil nutrients rather than insect consumption or specialized water-storage tissues. It does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it depends on external nitrogen availability in the substrate. Morphologically, the leaves are obovate in form, with dimensions that vary significantly; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, while leaf width spans from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 14 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

obovate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

14 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Petroselinum crispum is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, which are organized into an umbel inflorescence and feature yellow coloration. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in July. As a monocarp plant, its reproductive cycle is a singular event in its lifespan, and asexual reproduction is absent. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically mediated by insects. Following fertilization, which can occur through self-fertilization, the plant produces fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of 0.275 cm (ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 cm) and a mean width of 0.2 cm (ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 cm). These fruits are prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are small and uniform, with a consistent mean length of 2.5 mm and a mean mass of approximately 0.0015 g (ranging from 0.0013 to 0.0019 g). Dispersal of the seeds is categorized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous characteristics, indicating human-mediated movement.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.275 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.2 cm

Fruit width min:

0.1 cm

Inflorescence :

umbel

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0019 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00150266666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0013 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Petroselinum crispum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed.

Leaf

1. Journal of plant research
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Cureus

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Anticancer research

Seed

1. Journal of plant research
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Petroselinum crispum has 240 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include apigenin, Flavonoids, apiin, Myristicin, Apiol.

apigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Plant physiology
4. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
5. Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Nutrition and cancer
5. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

apiin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Acta pharmaceutica Hungarica

Myristicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Apiol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
3. Acta pharmaceutica Hungarica
4. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Apiole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of environmental and public health
4. ACS omega

Bergapten

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Acta pharmaceutica Hungarica

CADMIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
3. Journal of environmental and public health

IMPERATORIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients
3. Acta pharmaceutica Hungarica

Activities

Petroselinum crispum has 790 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Diuretic, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrition and cancer
3. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
4. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
5. Acta chimica Slovenica

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. International journal of molecular sciences

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Antiaging

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antianemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Petroselinum crispum has 52 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Escherichia coli, urolithiasis, Listeria monocytogenes, cardiovascular diseases, kidney stones.

Escherichia coli

1. Natural product communications
2. Cureus
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Urolithiasis

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. American journal of clinical and experimental urology
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Listeria monocytogenes

1. Natural product communications
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Kidney stones

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Alzheimer's disease

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Bacillus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Dna damage

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Er stress

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Preparations

Petroselinum crispum has 11 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils, Ethanolic extracts, Extracts, Leaf Extracts, aqueous extracts.

Essential oils

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf extracts

1. Cureus

Aqueous extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Aqueous plant extracts

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Carbinol extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Parsley root extract (pce)

1. Anticancer research

Petroleum ether extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM